City Research Online

Abstract

This submission, comprising a portfolio of forty-five new single-movement sonatas for piano solo with commentary, explores the idea of sonata as form, genre and pianistic journey, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DMus in Composition. The research, conducted through creative practice, as embodied in the scores and recordings, considers the idea of sonata from a wide range of creative angles. This includes a gamut of approaches to structure, from relatively traditional procedures to a radical conception of sonata form as open form. The commentary considers the new sonatas in the context of the immense repertoire of keyboard works from Scarlatti to the present day. There is a discussion about the evolving musicological understanding of sonata form, the use of topic theory as a compositional tool, and the diverse sources of inspiration for the works themselves, including the city of Venice, Erik Satie, Derek Jarman and Virginia Woolf.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	M Music and Books on Music > M Music
Departments:	Doctoral Theses

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